Indiana Playoff Preview: Familiar Opponents Shape the 6A and 5A Races
T25PS10/30/20265 min read
Photo courtesy Brownsburg athletics via Current Publishing; graphic: T25PS
Brownsburg has already beaten several teams it could see again in November. The Bulldogs went 9–0, handled Zionsville 38–3 and beat Westfield 38–14.
A Westfield rematch cannot happen until the Class 6A final. Unbeaten Warren Central could intercept Brownsburg one week earlier. In 5A, New Palestine's attempt at a third straight state championship begins with a demanding sectional, not a comfortable runway.
Friday's games and the November calendar
These four teams begin Friday, October 30, in the sectional semifinals. Indiana uses a blind draw rather than seeds.
#6 Brownsburg (IN), 9–0, travels to 7–2 Zionsville; #76 Westfield (IN), 8–1, hosts 5–4 Carmel. #65 Warren Central (IN), 9–0, visits 5–4 Perry Meridian, while 6–3 New Palestine returns to 8–1 Pendleton Heights.
Sectional finals are November 6, regionals November 13 and semi-states November 20. Lucas Oil Stadium hosts the 6A final November 27 and the 5A final November 28, both at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Brownsburg has answered the early tests
Zionsville's 7–2 record makes this a stronger opener than the previous score suggests. Still, Brownsburg allowed only three points there on October 2. The Bulldogs also beat Avon 49–7. If Avon beats Ben Davis, another familiar opponent would await in the sectional final.
Oscar Frye completed 15 of 19 passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns against Hamilton Southeastern on October 16. Branden Sharpe caught seven passes for 171 yards and all four scores. That connection gives Brownsburg a way to create separation without relying solely on its defense.
Your team. Your state. Your T25PS.
Make the national coverage more personal.
Save your home state and favorite team, then choose whether to receive major rankings and coverage updates. The account is free.
The regional pool contains North Central, Pike, Lawrence Central and Lawrence North. Lawrence North, 7–2, has beaten Center Grove, but Brownsburg beat it 48–25 in August. Those results are why the Bulldogs' unbeaten record carries weight beyond the standings.
Warren Central can disrupt the southern half
Warren Central must clear Perry Meridian before a possible sectional final against 8–1 Decatur Central. Franklin Central is the other option after beating Southport 43–0 on October 23.
Anthony Dennison completed 19 of 26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns against Homestead on October 16. A week earlier, Keyon Thomas ran 28 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns against Carmel. The Warriors have demonstrated production through both avenues.
Center Grove joins Jeffersonville, Columbus North and Whiteland in the regional pool. Warren Central beat Center Grove 20–14 in August; that margin leaves little room to dismiss a rematch.
If both unbeaten teams advance, Brownsburg and Warren Central meet in the November 20 southern semi-state. Both beat Lawrence North—Brownsburg 48–25, Warren Central 53–37—but those scores cannot settle a different matchup. Thomas and Dennison give the Warriors a credible answer to Brownsburg's offensive balance.
Westfield's first rematch could be close
Westfield beat Carmel 38–34 on August 28 after trailing 14–0. The Greyhounds' record should not hide how competitive that meeting was.
The Shamrocks finished with wins of 49–16 over Avon, 42–21 over Fishers and 42–14 over Franklin Central. Cooper Melvin threw for 188 yards and four touchdowns in the October 16 finale. Caiden Snow caught three touchdown passes, covering 18, 22 and 10 yards.
Fishers or Hamilton Southeastern would follow Carmel. Westfield beat HSE 36–7 in September. An 8–1 Carroll team is in the regional pool with Noblesville, Fort Wayne Northrop and Homestead.
Crown Point occupies the other northern quarter. It is 9–0, beat Merrillville 23–14 and allowed six points across its final two regular-season games. Crown Point could be Westfield's toughest obstacle before the state final, although Penn, Valparaiso, Portage and Elkhart are also in its quarter.
New Palestine's record needs context
New Palestine won the 2024 Class 4A championship and the 2025 Class 5A title. The Dragons are back-to-back state champions, with a chance to make it three straight across those two classifications.
Their three losses came against East Central, 14–6 on August 28; Roncalli, 20–6 on October 2; and IMG Academy, 49–7 on October 9. East Central was ranked No. 1 in 4A at their meeting. New Palestine was tied 7–7 with IMG midway through the second quarter before the Ascenders pulled away. That schedule explains part of the 6–3 record; it does not erase the offensive difficulties in those losses.
The immediate evidence is more encouraging. New Palestine won 38–21 at Pendleton Heights on September 18 and closed with a 63–7 win over Delta. Against Delta, Kade Stephens ran 12 times for 131 yards and four touchdowns; Rhys Ragan threw for 223 yards and four scores.
Cathedral or Mt. Vernon would follow. Cathedral's late wins over Covington Catholic and Archbishop Hoban, including a 38–16 result against Hoban, make the Irish a serious sectional threat despite their matching 6–3 record.
The regional pool contains 7–2 Plainfield, Indianapolis Arsenal Technical and both Terre Haute Vigo teams. Bloomington South and Floyd Central are leading possibilities in the other southern quarter. In the north, Warsaw beat Concord 37–29 before losing 37–30 to Northridge in the finale. New Palestine would need more than one strong performance to get back to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Our championship calls
Class 6A matchup: Brownsburg vs. Westfield. Champion: Brownsburg. Its 38–14 head-to-head win and convincing results against potential early opponents set the standard. Possible surprise team: Warren Central, whose rushing and passing production could prevent that rematch.
Class 5A matchup: New Palestine vs. Warsaw. Champion: New Palestine. The back-to-back champions have faced a demanding schedule, already beaten their opening opponent and regained offensive momentum against Delta. Possible surprise team: Cathedral, whose late-season wins make it capable of ending the Dragons' defense in the sectional final.
